The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…

Yea, it is an unthankful world, that in the exercise of this malignant cruelty, will begin with those that deserve best at their hands. He that would instruct them, and stop them in their sin, and save their souls, doth ordinarily make himself a prey:¹ and they are not content to take away their lives, but they will (among their credulous rabble) take away the reputation of their honesty: and no wisdom or learning was ever so great, no innocency so unspotted, no honesty, justice or charity so untainted, no holiness so venerable, that could ever privilege the owners from their rage, or make the possessors to escape their malice. Even Jesus Christ, that never committed sin, and that came into the world with the most matchless love, and to do them the greatest good, was yet prosecuted furiously to a shameful death; and not only so, but in his humiliation his judgement was taken away; and he was condemned as an evil ⟨p. 246⟩doer, who was the greatest enemy to sin that ever was born into the World: He was accused of Blasphemy (for calling himself the Son of God) of Impiety (for talking of destroying the Temple) and of Treason (for saying he was a King). And his Apostles that went about the World to save mens Souls, and proclaim to them the joyful tidings of salvation, had little better entertainment: wherever they came, bonds and afflictions did abide them; And if they had not been taught to rejoice in tribulations, they could have expected little joy on earth. And it was not only Christians that were thus used, but honesty in the Heathens was usually met with opposition and reproach, as Seneca himself doth oft complain, Yea, how few have there been that have been famous for any excellency of wit or learning, or any addition to the Worlds understanding, but their reward hath been reproach, imprisonment or death? Did Socrates die in his bed? Or was he not murdered by the rage of wicked Hypocrites? Plato durst not speak his mind,² for fear of his Masters reward. Aristippus left Athens, ne bis peccarent in Philosophiam: not only Solon, but most benefactors to any Common-wealth have suffered for their beneficence. Demosthenes, Cato, Cicero, Seneca, could none of them save their lives from fury, by their great learning or honesty. Yea, among nominal Christians, he that told them of an Antipodes, was excommunicated by the Papal Authority for an Heretic;